Adjustable gate support



May 13, 1952 c. D. GRIFFIN ADJUSTABLE GATE SUPPORT Filed Oct. 18, 1950 M 7. N I I I. Y B

Cleo 0 Griff/n My Ame Patented May 13, .1952

UNITED STATES T OFFICE ADJUSTABLE GATE SUPPORT Cleo D. Griffin, Havana, 111., assignor of fifty per cent to Cecil Griffin, Sr., Havana, Ill.

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in supports for portable gates of a lazytong type and commonly known as a porch gate for children, and more particularly to an adjustable support for easily and quickly mounting the frame in a doorway or other opening without requiring the use of fasteners of any character which might mar the finish of the woodwork.

An important object of the invention is to provide a gate support of this character embodying a knockdown construction to conveniently carry and store the same when not in use and which may be adjusted to doorways or openings of various types.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is strong and durable, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the gate support in position in a doorway;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational View showing the sections of the support locked in position;

Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged transverse sectional views taken respectively on the lines 3--3 and 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged view partly in section showing one of the spring loaded clamping pads.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein, for the purpose of illustration, I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates the gate support generally and which comprises a pair of L-shaped sections 6 and 1 preferably constructed of tubular metal and with at least their horizontal ends 8 and 9 of square or other non-circular shape and telescoping one within the other to prevent relative rotation thereof.

Each vertical end portion ll] of the sections 6 and l are provided with an upper fixed pad II and a spring loaded lower pad [2 provided with a plunger 13 sliding in a socket I4 projecting outwardly at the lower portion of the vertical end ll) of the support. A coil spring 15 is positioned in the socket l4 behind the plunger I3 to project the pad outwardly and the socket I4 is provided with a transverse pin l6 slidable in a longitudinal slot I! in the plunger l3 to hold the pad captive in the socket. The pads II and [2 may be of suitable resilient material and of any desired shape.

The horizontal end 9 of section I is formed in its upper portion with a row of openings l8 to selectively receive a pin l9 at one end of a foldable spreader and locking bar designated generally at 20 and composed of a pair of channel members 2| and 22 pivoted to each other at one end, as indicated at 23, the pin l9 being carried at the outer end of channel member 2 I, while the outer end of channel member 22 is pivoted to the horizontal end portion 8 of section 6 by a transverse pin 24.

The channel members 2| and 22 are arranged to fit over the horizontal end portions 8 and 9 by downward pressure on the members 2| and 22 into a longitudinally aligned position to slide horizontal end portions 8 and 9 of the sections 6 and I outwardly with respect to each other, whereby to clamp the upper and lower pads H and I2 against the sides of a door frame 25 or other opening.

The sections 6 and I are constructed of resilient metal and with their horizontal and vertical end portions positioned at an angle with respect to each other in excess of ninety degrees, as indicated in Figure 1 of the drawing, whereby the vertical end portions [0 will be inclined inwardly at their lower portions with respect to the perpendicular plane of the door frame 25 and outward pressure is subjected thereto by the downward movement of locking bar 20 to spread the horizontal ends 8 and 9 of the support apart, and which compresses springs l5 to clamp the lower pads 12 in the door frame. The upper pads II are clamped against the door frame also by the pressure subjected to the vertical end portions 10 of the support.

A lazytong type of porch gate 26 is attached at one end to vertical end portion 10 of section 6 of the support by means of eyes 21 and pins 28 and may be secured to the vertical end portion ill of section I of the support by means of a hook 29 and eye 3!] to lock the gate in its closed position.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: v

1. A gate support comprising a pair of 1,,- shaped members adapted for mounting in a passageway, and means adjustably connecting the lower horizontal ends of said members to each other in a spreading movement to force the ver: tical ends of said members against the opposing sides of the passageway.

2. A gate support comprising a pair of L shaped members adapted for mounting in a passageway, upper and lower pads on the vertical end portions .of said members, and a collapsible spreader bar connecting the horizontal end portions of the members to each other and forcing the pads against the opposing sides ,of the passageway.

3. A gate support comprising .a pair of resilient L-shaped members adapted for mounting in a passageway and including vertical end portions and horizontal end portions positioned at angles in excess of 90 with respectto each other, l fir fixed pads and lower spring-loaded pads carried by the vertical ,end portions, and a collapsible spreader bar connecting the horizontal end portions to each other and forcing the pads against the opposing sides of the passageway.

4. A gate support comprising a pair of L- shaped members mountable at the respective lateral sides of a passageway, said members having horizontal end portions slidable relative to each other, and means connecting said horizontal end portions to each other in locked engagement. A sat up vwil ie v a Pa Of shaped members mountable at the respective lateral sides of a passageway, said members having telescoping horizontal end portions, and. means locking said horizontal end portions to each other in ad ustedr la io 6. A gate support comprising a pair of L- shaped members mountable at the respective lateral sides of a passageway, said members having telescoping horizontal end portions, and a foldable spreader bar locking said horizontal end portions to each other in adjustedrelation.

' GLEO D.

REFERENCES one! The idle-W ne mig aines are o .rsqq i in th ti e Qf thi p t nt;

UNlTIEP We? Number Name Date 466,940 Fowler Jan. :12, 1892 1,459,522 Woods June '19, 1923 1,943,768 Melaas Jan. 16, 1934 2,380,487 Ackley ...1 'July 31, 1945 

